Large infrastructure projects threatening ecosystems and livelihoods by diverting water and depriving rural populations of access to water are being promoted in the name of drinking water provisioning. Implementation and monitoring efforts have barely made any progress on Sustainable Development Goals that involve recognising trade-offs and synergies. The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) were adopted in 2000 to improve the lives of the world’s poor. By 2015, most countries had made significant progress towards these goals, but it became clear that development and sustainability could be in conflict (Sachs 2012). Managing the effects of production and consumption on the environment was proving to be a challenge as people aspired to higher standards of living (Griggs et al 2014). But, to pursue the MDGs in isolation would risk undermining the long-term goal of sustainable well-being. Hence, the nations agreed that poverty eradication, changing unsustainable and promoting sustainable patterns of consumption and production, and protecting and managing the natural resource base of economic and social development were not only the overarching objectives but also the essential requirements for sustainable development (United Nations 2015). The deliberations around the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 (Water and Sanitation) in India are discussed herein. It is argued that the transition in the mindset from MDGs to SDGs has not occurred (Table 1, p 17). Therefore, a paradigm shift in thinking is needed to complete the transition.